Camp is used in a variety of different ways for a variety of different players. For more veteran, established NHLers, it’s a chance to ramp up and prepare for the regular season. For younger skaters with CHL eligibility, it’s a chance to get a taste of the pro game before returning to their respective junior teams, while incoming rookies get a chance to get acclimated as they begin their pro careers.
But for second-year skaters like Brock McGinn, Phil Di Giuseppe and Trevor Carrick, who all spent their rookie campaigns in Charlotte last season, it’s a little different. Armed with the experience of a full AHL season, they’re looking translate that into success here in their first training camp after turning pro.
“It’s definitely a lot better,” said McGinn of this year’s training camp. “You come in with that extra year experience so you feel more comfortable knowing all the guys.”
With Hurricanes staff like Glen Wesley and Cory Stillman making numerous appearances at Checkers’ practices last season and working one-on-one with the defensemen and forwards, respectively, there is an added comfort for the second-year players as they work their way through camp, one that they haven’t had at camps past.
“I’m a little older guy now,” said Carrick. “It’s my third camp so I know what to expect. I’m familiar with a few faces, which makes it a little easier out there for me”.
Prior to camp all three players, plus fellow second-year skater Carter Sandlak, took part in the Traverse City prospects tournament. While they had participated in the event multiple times in years past, they were the veterans of the Hurricanes’ team, which was made up of mainly younger prospects. That gave them a more unique opportunity than they had seen prior.
“Being the older guy on the team and kind of being more of a leader this year,” said Carrick of his biggest takeaway from the tournament. “Trying to help out the younger guys just like the older guys did to me in the past years.”
Like Carrick, McGinn placed an emphasis on helping the less experienced players get acclimated and being a leader, as he served as the team captain throughout the tournament.
“Going in for the third year I know what to expect with the coaches and what everybody is expecting of you,” said McGinn. “You just want to go in there and help the young guys come in and play the way they can and let them do what got them there.”
All three players turned in strong performances during their rookie seasons and have positioned themselves to possibly make NHL debuts this season, whether it be making the team out of camp or earning a call-up during the season. In order to do so, they’ll need to heed the feedback they’ve received from staff over the last year. With a full slate of games to recall and the instructions from their coaches, the second-year skaters head into this camp knowing exactly what they must hone in on in order to build off that rookie year and succeed. Above all else, one thing stuck out.
“Just bringing a consistent game every night,” said Di Giuseppe. “You know last year I was playing well then took a couple nights off, so they’re just saying to bring it every night.”
“Going out there and playing my game,” said McGinn. “Just playing hard every shift, going out there and being consistent and just making sure I’m ready every day.”
The Hurricanes celebrated the beginning of training camp with their annual Red vs. White scrimmage on Sunday. With almost all of the veteran NHLers out of the lineup, the game gave attendees a good look at some of the newer faces to the organization, some faces that we could see here in Charlotte. Below are some observations from the scrimmage.
New Faces Impressed...
Derek Ryan jumped out immediately, netting the game’s first goal and showing off some nifty hands in the process. He also showed a very strong presence in front of the net, jumping on several rebounds and loose pucks. Coming into this season with no North American games under his belt made him somewhat of an unknown commodity, but his impressive production in the top Swedish League appears to be no fluke, as the 28-year-old didn’t look out of place.By now everyone is likely familiar with Sergey Tolchinsky, as his dazzling skills have been lighting up the internet since prospects camp. The 20-year-old Russian didn’t drop any jaws with his performance in the scrimmage, but he looked strong on the wing of another newcomer, T.J. Hensick, who turned some heads. Centering a line with Tolchinsky and Di Giuseppe, Hensick looked like a force on the offensive end, showing off nice hands and a laser shot. Should he end up in Charlotte, he could be the shot in the arm offensively that the club so desperately needed last season, and that trio seemed to have some nice chemistry among themselves.
On the blue line, AHL-signee Jake Chelios turned in a nice performance and showed he wasn’t afraid push things offensively. He carried the puck up and joined the rush several times without playing it to recklessly. He should prove to be a solid depth piece on the Checkers’ blue line.
...As Did Familiar Ones
With most of the everyday NHLers not playing, the scrimmage heavily featured players who spent last season in Charlotte, including one in net.Drew MacIntyre, sporting a flashy new set of pads, manned one of the creases for half of the game. The veteran stood tall in goal and impressed with several saves on loose pucks in the slot with a lot of traffic.
On the offensive end, Brody Sutter was a force in front, constantly attacking and using his big frame to fight for pucks, and netted a goal after picking up a rebound in the slot. Sutter finished last year on quite the tear offensively and will be looking to take another step in the facet of the game this season.
As mentioned earlier, Di Giuseppe looked in sync with his linemates Hensick and Tolchinsky and was able to create a little more offensively than we saw last season. On defense, Danny Biega and Keegan Lowe both saw a good amount of ice time and looked confident with the puck. Each blue liner got NHL action late last season, which could help them make a jump heading into this campaign.
Three-On-Three OT Will Be A Blast
After testing out it out partially last season, the AHL will join the NHL this year in implementing a five-minute, three-on-three overtime format. The scrimmage ended with a three-on-three overtime period, with Brendan Woods netting what would normally be the game winner (with it being a scrimmage, the entire five minutes was played regardless).At this point it’s still tough to project exactly what the Checkers lineup will look like opening night, but there are certainly several players on the radar that will thrive in this overtime format. Forwards like Tolchinsky, Di Giuseppe and McGinn have the speed and creativity to excel in the more wide-open ice, while defensemen like Carrick and incoming rookie Brett Pesce have a nose for the back of the net that could be lethal in three-on-three.
The Checkers played in 10 three-on-three overtime situations last season, yielding four game-winning goals. Of those four, only one came for the Checkers. This added firepower should help raise that success rate this year.
